ROUND 1

1.

Who composed Concert de Aranjuez for classical guitar?

Rodrigo

2.

Who composed the orchestral tone poem L’Après-midi d'un faune?

Debussy

3.

Which scientist, born in Manchester in 1766, proposed the modern atomic theory and lends his name to a form of colour blindness?

John Dalton

4.

Which scientist, a pupil of Dalton, was the first to describe the relationship between mechanical energy and heat energy, and lends his name to an S.I. unit?

James Prescott Joule

5.

Who is leader of the UK Independence Party?

Roger Knapman

6.

Who is Scotland’s First Minister?

Jack McConnell

7.

William Fox-Talbot was a pioneer in which activity?

Photography

8.

With which photographic invention is Edwin Land credited?

Polaroid camera

ROUND 2

1.

Name either of the two women awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976.

Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan

2.

Name 3 of the 4 Irishmen who have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Yeats, Shaw, Becket, Heaney

3.

Roddy Frame, erstwhile lead singer of the 80’s group Aztec Camera, performs the theme tune to which BBC comedy programme?

Early Doors

4.

The Balanescu Quartet performs the theme tune to which long-running BBC programme?

University Challenge

5.

In Norse mythology what is the name of the heavenly abode of the Gods?

Asgard

6.

In Norse mythology who were the Valkyries?

Goddesses who accompanied the slain from the battlefield to Valhalla

7.

Which film of 2002 opens with a fight between the Nativists and the Dead Rabbits?

Gangs of New York

8.

Which Sam Mendes film of 2002 features Jude Law playing a character with a penchant for photographing murder victims?

The Road to Perdition

ROUND 3

1.

Which child of 8 was horribly murdered in Hampshire in 1867 and has given her name to a well known saying, ambiguous because of its initials?

Fanny Adams

2.

From which children’s book does the phrase “in the doghouse” originate?

Peter Pan (Mr Darling had to live in a kennel as a penance for his mistreatment of Nana)

3.

What links the following: Concorde, Emile Zola, Danube, Rome, Franklin D Roosevelt and Stalingrad?

Paris Metro stations

4.

What links the following: Boardwalk, Pennsylvania Railroad, Pacific Avenue, Marvin Gardens and St James Place?

Properties on an American Monopoly board

5.

What did Eugene Cernan do on December 11th 1972, that 11 people had done previously, but that nobody has done since?

Walked on the moon

6.

Which satellite of Saturn revolves in the opposite direction to all the others?

Phoebe

7.

Which king, murdered in 1327, is buried in Gloucester Cathedral?

Edward II

8.

In which cathedral can you see the Mappa Mundi?

Hereford

ROUND 4

1.

What is a blini?

A (Russian) pancake

2.

What type of fish is used for the Scandinavian dish Gravadlax?

Salmon

3.

Which fashion designer became widely known in the mid-1970’s when he launched the Warehouse chain?

Jeff Banks

4.

Which celebrated boutique was founded by Barbara Hulanicki in 1964?

Biba

5.

In which hit of Elvis Costello would you hear the words: “After three years of marriage it’s the first time you haven’t made the bed”?

Good Year for the Roses

6.

In which hit by The Who would you hear the words: “His disciples lead him in/ And he just does the rest”?

Pinball Wizard

7.

By what name was Botswana known before 1967?

Bechuanaland

8.

By what name was Zambia known before independence?

Northern Rhodesia

ROUND 5

1.

Which mountain became, in 1950, the first peak over 26,000 feet to be climbed?

Annapurna

2.

What is the highest peak in the Cairngorm range, and the second highest mountain in the British Isles?

Ben Macdhui

3.

For his direction of which film of 1994 was Robert Zemeckis awarded an Oscar?

Forrest Gump

4.

For his direction of which film of 1988 was Barry Levinson awarded an Oscar?

Rain Man

5.

Spell desiccate.

D-E-S-I-C-C-A-T-E

6.

Spell minuscule.

M-I-N-U-S-C-U-L-E

7.

How many British Prime Ministers have there been since VE Day?

11 (Churchill, Attlee, Eden, Macmillan, Home, Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher, Major, Blair)

8.

How many US Presidents have there been since VE Day?

11 (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush – Roosevelt died 3 weeks before VE Day)

ROUND 6 

1.

Of which comic genius has Humphrey Carpenter written a major biography, published this year?

Spike Milligan

2.

Whose biography of Captain Scott was published in paperback this year?

Ranulph Fiennes

3.

Where will the sailing events be held if London succeeds in its bid to host the 2012 Olympics?

Weymouth

4.

From which London landmark will the Triathlon begin if London succeeds in its bid to host the 2012 Olympics?

Serpentine (accept Hyde Park)

5.

How did Jolly Stanesby achieve 15 minutes of fame last week?

Handcuffed himself for 15 minutes to Margaret Hodge for ‘Fathers 4 Justice’

6.

Why was Elaine Day in the news last week?

Former PA to Prince Charles, claiming unfair dismissal

7.

On the original Band Aid single, Boy George sang the words: “And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy”.  Who sang them on the much hyped cover version last week?

Dido

8.

On the new Band Aid single Chris Martin sings the words: “It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid”.  Who sang them on the original?

Paul Young

ROUND 7

1.

Who designed the Crystal Palace, the Great Exhibition building of 1851?

(Joseph) Paxton

2.

Who designed St Pancras Station?

(George Gilbert) Scott

3.

Which novel of 1874 opens with the words: “When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance from his ears.....”?

Far From The Madding Crowd

4.

Which novel of 1932 opens with the words: “A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories.  Over the main entrance the words: CENTRAL LONDON HATCHING AND CONDITIONING CENTRE......”?

Brave New World

5.

Who is the entrepreneur behind the Intimates range of lingerie brand?

Elle McPherson

6.

Which specialist retail chain is headed by Jacqueline Gold and may soon see competition from Boots?

Ann Summers

7.

Which words appearing consecutively in my dictionary mean:

a) lively and bubbly

b) feeble and incapable and

c) producing the desired effect?

Effervescent – effete - efficacious

8.

Which words appearing consecutively in my dictionary mean:

a) each of several teeth on a wheel

b) a child or baby and

c) to put forth shoots?

Sprocket – sprog - sprout

ROUND 8

1.

What name is given to the science of diseases or the branch of medicine which deals with the classification of diseases?

Nosology

2.

What name is given to the study of the structure and function of cells called?

Cytology

3.

In August this year a re-enactment was staged in the Ukraine to mark the 150th anniversary of what?

Charge of the Light Brigade

4.

This year is the 300th anniversary of Britain’s first victory on European soil since Agincourt when Marlborough defeated the French in which battle?

Blenheim

5.

Which football club is sponsored by Bolton-based Dabs?

Fulham

6.

Which football club is sponsored by Bredbury-based Allsports?

Charlton Athletic

7.

Who painted A Bar at the Folies-Bergeres, The Luncheon and The Spanish Singer?

Manet

8.

Who painted Girl Balancing on a Ball, Girl with Bare Feet and Three Dancers?

Picasso

SPARES

1.

Who was Sandra Rivett?

The Lucan family nanny

2.

Who is the new director of the CIA?

Porter Goss

3.

Which 1989 film was advertised with the tagline: “The man with the hat is back and this time he’s brought his dad”?

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

4.

What name links 8 Popes, 3 Scottish Kings and 3 Tsars?

Alexander

5.

Which political first was achieved by Margaret Bondfeld in 1929?

Britain’s first Cabinet Minister

6.

Complete the advertising slogan: “Nothing comes between me and my.....” what?

Calvin Klein jeans

7.

Which Latin phrase is commonly used to indicate an indispensable condition?

Sine qua non

8.

What is the latest animated Disney film released in the UK this week?

The Incredibles